Illinois’ Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Chad Goodman.
In Thursday’s (2/20) WFMT (Chicago), Keegan Morris writes, “The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2025-2026 season, the orchestra’s 76th. Music director Chad Goodman’s third season with the orchestra will span six concerts in the orchestra’s flagship Classics Series. All programs will receive two performances at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. The ESO season begins in October with a program of music by Carlos Simon, Howard Hanson, and headlined by Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F featuring guest artist Orion Weiss. In November, audiences will hear music by Clara Schumann/Benjamin de Murashkin, Felix Mendelssohn, and a pair of works by Mozart—including his Fourth Horn Concerto starring ESO principal horn Greg Flint. February sees works of Dvořák, Barber (with guest violinist Geneva Lewis), and Brahms. In March, the orchestra is joined by the Elgin Master Chorale for a program music of Valerie Coleman and Edvard Grieg that culminates with the Fauré Requiem. In April, the orchestra shares music by emerging American composer Quinn Mason, Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto (featuring cellist Oliver Herbert), and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Closing out the season in May is Angélica Negrón’s Morivivi, Richard Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration, and Ravel’s orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.”
